Travel Guides

Polaria

Polaria is an information and experience centre for
the whole family, combining interactive experiences with
information about the arctic environment. There is a panoramic film
about the arctic wilderness of Svalbard, an Arctic Walkway that
creates a snowstorm experience and the Northern Lights
spectacle.

As the Northern Lights are famously unpredictable, it
is nice to know that you can at least see the effect recreated at
Polaria even if the lights elude you in real life. The bearded seal
pool is especially exciting at feeding time, and an aquarium
provides a close look at arctic sea mammals and life in the
freezing waters.

There is a little gift shop for those wanting
souvenirs. Polaria is best suited to families and is a good option
for those travelling with kids in Tromsø. A visit will only
take about one to three hours and ideally should be timed to
coincide with seal training and feeding. These usually take place
daily at 12.30pm and 3.30pm in the winter months, and at 12.30pm
and 3pm in the summer.

Those wanting a more grown-up investigation of arctic
history, particularly the explorers and seal hunting tradition,
should visit the Polar Museum housed in a converted warehouse by
the harbour.